The Veil of the Chancellery
In Realm of the Crown, only one thing is spoken of today: a daring theft, carried out almost before the court's eyes. The Chancellery has set every other file aside: until what was taken returns, no one sleeps easy. Suspicion has fallen on Ban Radu the Silent, Castellan Ursu, Teofil the Chronicler, Grigore the Cupbearer and Codrin the Huntsman — and until the proof is plain, none of these names leaves the room. The places named in the testimonies — the queen's garden, the hunting lodge, the castle cellar, the throne room and the scriptorium — each await their turn under scrutiny. The threads were tangled on purpose: investigate, weigh every word, and pronounce your verdict only when the grid leaves no room for doubt.
Suspects
He has never uttered a needless word in his life. Sadly, nor a useful one for investigators.
1.81 m
right-handed
grey eyes
grey hair
He keeps the fortress dungeon and the tally of those who leave other than they entered.
1.90 m
right-handed
dark eyes
black hair
He writes the kingdom's history as he is ordered. The unwelcome drafts, however, he keeps every one.
1.69 m
left-handed
brown eyes
greying hair
He tastes the king's wine before anyone else. A trade with a short future, he says, but a rich past.
1.70 m
right-handed
brown eyes
chestnut hair
He knows the royal forest better than the castle corridors. Tracks, he says, never lie - men do.
1.87 m
right-handed
green eyes
black hair
Locations
the queen's garden
Roses trimmed to a line and paths you may walk only by invitation. At night, the hedge has ears.
the hunting lodge
The royal cabin in the heart of the forest. Far from the eyes of the court - which is exactly what suits some.
the castle cellar
Barrels as big as carts and corners the lantern never reaches.
the throne room
Gold, purple, and the most closely watched place in the kingdom. In theory.
the scriptorium
Slanted desks, ink, and working silence. Here a quill creaks louder than a conscience.
Objects
the signet ring
The crest has been filed away almost completely. Almost.
the bronze key
Heavy, old, its teeth worn smooth. No one knows what door it opens anymore - or so they say.
the silver-clad icon
The silver casing is old craftsmanship; the nails that hold it were driven this week.
the ermine cloak
White fur with black tails - only the royal family may wear it. It has a tear at the hem.
the locked chest
Three padlocks, two rows of straps. Fresh scratches around the hinges, not the locks.
Motives
revenge
O datorie de sânge pe care numai fapta o mai șterge.
the inheritance
O avere așteptată, pe care numai o moarte o desparte de mână.
ambition
Setea de a urca, chiar peste trupuri, spre o treaptă mai înaltă.
fear of exposure
Groaza de a fi dat în vileag, care împinge la orice.
a debt of honour
O făgăduială care cântărește mai greu decât viața.
Moments
at dawn
When the citadel is barely waking and the guards still doze.
after matins
The hour after the morning service, when the abbey empties.
at noon
Midday, with bustle in the markets and silence in the alcoves.
at dusk
When the shadows lengthen and the lanterns are not yet lit.
at vespers
At the evening service, when the bells drown out any footstep.
Open the Grid (below) to solve the case, with the testimonies at hand.
Touch a cell: blank → ✗ (excluded) → ✓ (certain) → blank. Each pair of categories meets exactly once.
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Verdict
The culprit always lies; everyone else tells the truth.
- The traces left at the scene show it plainly: the culprit was in the place where the hedge has ears.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: the hunting lodge and revenge go together.
- The tracks in the dust do not lie: the ermine cloak matches that hour: at vespers.
- In the Chancellery's ledger it stands in black and white: Ban Radu the Silent was driven by ambition.
- The chancellor deduced it coldly: if Grigore the Cupbearer was there at dawn, then Teofil the Chronicler was in the place far from the eyes of the court.
- The gate guard swears: the bronze key matches that hour: at dusk.
- In the Chancellery's ledger it stands in black and white: the scriptorium and fear of exposure go together.
- The customs register is clear: the scriptorium does not match that hour: at dawn.
- At the Chancellery, Teofil the Chronicler maintains: "I handled the ermine cloak".
- Before the investigator, Codrin the Huntsman firmly repeats: "I was driven by a debt of honour".
- Every scout reports the same about the culprit: the culprit handled the signet ring.
- Before the investigator, Ban Radu the Silent firmly repeats: "I was there at vespers".
- The hounds caught no scent at all: Castellan Ursu was not present after matins.
- The hounds caught no scent at all: the castle cellar and the silver-clad icon do not go together.
- The chronicler notes drily: the suspect with grey eyes was there at noon, whatever the court may say.
- By the order of the hours, first comes the suspect with chestnut hair, then the tallest suspect.
- The gate guard swears: the throne room and a debt of honour go together.
- The bell-ringer remembers well: the suspect with chestnut hair came earlier than Codrin the Huntsman.